CALN - There have been some very down times for the Coatesville High School boys soccer program over the years. But this year’s team is achieving things that haven’t been done in quite some time.

Earlier this season for instance, the Red Raiders defeated West Chester Henderson for the first time in well over a decade.

On Thursday night in front of a big home crowd on Senior Night, Coatesville took another step towards a place it hasn’t been in a while as they posted a 4-2 victory over visiting Bishop Shanahan in a Ches-Mont League National Division match.

The Red Raiders (3-4-2 National, 3-8-2 overall) won for the third time so far this fall in the Ches-Mont, and moved into sole possession of third place in the division in the process.

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“We haven’t won more than three league games since I’ve been here, and probably a lot longer than that. So one more and that would really be quite an accomplishment for these kids,” said sixth-year Coatesville coach Scott Polk. “I’m really happy for our seniors tonight. Some of them have been here through some tough times.

“Not too long ago this program was losing games by scores of 8-0 and 7-1 on a regular basis. We have four league games left and we hope to get more wins and challenge for a five hundred record. Considering where we’ve been as a program that’s not too bad.”

Coatesville received goals from four different players on this night -- all of which were juniors: Steven McFarland, Nick Dobson, Juan Calle and Pablo Pulgarin.

Bishop Shanahan (0-8, 1-9-1) struck first just over eight minutes into the contest on a goal by Tim MacCarrick to grab a 1-0 lead. McFarland leveled the match midway through the half, before the Eagles went back up in front again, 2-1, on a goal by Zack Watson with 17:52 to go in the first half.

The Red Raiders, though, tied it a minute later on a great header by Dobson, and the score remained 2-2 going into halftime.

Coatesville went in front 3-2 with 26:05 to go on Calle’s goal. They then struck again just 30 seconds later on Pulgarin’s tally.

“We let up those two early goals but we fought hard,” said Coatesville’s standout defensive back, senior co-captain Jon Bollenbach. “It’s amazing how much fun it is to win games. We’ve been through some tough times over the years.”

While Coatesville is seeing a resurgence this fall, Bishop Shanahan has struggled in 2012 and is still searching for its first league victory.

Second-year Eagles coach Jim Kalavik knows better days are on the horizon.

“We definitely have a nice future ahead of us,” said Kalavik. “It’s never a lack of effort on these kids’ parts. They always play hard. It just hasn’t been our year.

“Coatesville did a really nice job tonight. They were attacking with tenacity, and they took it to us in the second half.”

Coatesville’s five seniors were honored before the game. They, more than anyone, can appreciate how things have turned for the better.

“Our level of play has improved tremendously,” said senior midfielder Orville Hernandez. “We’ve come such a long way from when we were freshman.

“It felt great to get a win on Senior Night. Hopefully we can get a couple more and close this year out strong.”